Tired of those manipulative campaign ads “mostly about politics,” as Mike Huckabee puts it in this clip? The Republican preacher-politician radiates empathy in this toasty-warm Christmas greeting. But to think that Team Huckabee, or any other candidate’s camp for that matter, would miss a chance to reach out to key demographics in any kind of TV spot is pure folly.

Watch closely and perhaps hit “pause” right around the time Huckabee says, “What really matters is the celebration of the birth of Christ ... ,” and—presto—a Christmas miracle! Or maybe just a camera crew well trained to use lighting, camera angles and seemingly “incidental” backdrops (or, as the photo below from a speech Bush made at Mt. Rushmore early in his presidency demonstrates, not-so-incidental backdrops) to enhance and amplify a politician’s message.

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"Behind every great fortune lies a great crime."Honore de Balzac

"Democrats work to help people who need help. That other party, they work for people who don't need help. That's all there is to it."~Harry S. Truman